Lenape stops Patriots in state lacrosse

Spotting a team four goals early on is no way to begin a state tournament game, and although the Freehold Township High School boys lacrosse team was eventually able to claw its way back into its NJSIAA Public Group IV state tournament opening round game, the early deficit proved too much to overcome.

ERIC SUCAR staff Freehold Township High School's John Talamo whips a shot on goal during the Patriots' NJSIAA state tournament game against Lenape High School on May 20. Lenape beat the Patriots, 9-7, in Freehold Township to advance in postseason action. On May 20, visiting Lenape High School of Medford left Freehold Township with a 9-7 victory that put a damper on an otherwise great season for the Patriots.

"It was a very tough way to end the season," Patriots Coach Steve Gibb said. "I'm very disappointed in the way we played in the first quarter and most of the second quarter. We just didn't show up."

But Lenape certainly did, striking for four goals in the first five minutes, including two by attack wing Kevin Rapp.

Corey Rutenberg got the Patriots on the board before the first quarter expired, beating goalie Kyle Norton, who was outstanding all game, on a low drive inside the far post.

The Patriots tightened their defense in the second quarter and began to take the attack to the Indians. Norton came up big, stoning Mike Mango and John Talamo on point-blank shots to keep Lenape in front.

Mango finally put a shot past Norton to close the gap to 4-2, but a costly turnover in the final minute led to Rapp's third goal of the game and a 5-2 Lenape lead at the half.

If the Indians had a sense of security at the half, it was a false sense of security. The Patriots began to cash in on their chances in the third quarter and outscored Lenape 3-1 to close within 6-5.

Defender Nick Herring started it for the Patriots by scoring on a breakout.

Ryan Leonard responded for Lenape, but Talamo and Mango closed the gap to just one goal heading into the final quarter.

Freehold Township goalie Mike Luongo stood tall early in the fourth quarter, stopping Leonard on a breakaway and Evan Toepel on a shot in the crease.

Lenape's persistence was rewarded when Rapp tallied his fourth goal of the match midway through the period and the Indians once again had a two-goal cushion. Rapp added another goal to make the score 8-5.

Freehold Township would not go away and Talamo scored to make it 8-6, before Mango tallied again with 2:05 left to bring the Patriots within a goal at 8-7.

However, the Indians were able to play keep-away and Toepel scored with :41 to play to nail down the state tournament victory for Lenape.

"We fought back, but we still don't know how to finish," Gibb said. "Lenape played terrific. It was a fast, physical game."

Rapp scored five goals for Lenape, which improved to 10-7. Norton had 13 saves for the Indians.

Mango and Talamo each scored two for the Patriots, who ended the season with a 12-4 record. Mango also had two assists. Andrew Berkowitz also scored for Freehold Township, and Luongo pushed aside 14 shots for the Patriots in net.

The loss left Gibb lamenting all of the rainouts that cost his team important non- Shore Conference A North Division games that could have better prepared the Patriots for the state tournament.

For the most part, Freehold Township breezed through its Shore Conference A North Division schedule without breaking a sweat. The Patriots won the A North public school title with a 10-2 record. The team's two A North losses were to nonpublic Christian Brothers Academy.

"It's always good to have something to hang your hat on," said Gibb. "I'm very proud of my guys. I'm not disappointed with my team."

The Patriots had one of the top lines in the Shore Conference this spring in the trio of Mango, Talamo and Andrew Miller. Mango and Talamo each scored 53 goals and Miller dished out 43 assists.

The good news for Freehold Township is that all three players are expected to return in 2010. Talamo and Miller are juniors and Mango is a sophomore.

The future is bright for the Patriots be- cause overall, they were a young team. Herring will return, as will Luongo, who established himself as one of the top goalies in the conference.

Colts Neck and Howell also qualified for the NJSIAA state lacrosse tournament.

Howell lost at Bridgewater-Raritan in Group IV play, 15-1, and Colts Neck lost in Group III to West Windsor-Plainsboro North, 13-1.

For Coach Derek Reichenbecher's Rebels, it was a big deal to make the tournament. Howell was a young team this spring and any postseason experience was a welcome achievement.

"We were excited to be in the playoffs again," the coach said. "It's the fourth time in five years."

The Rebels were up against a tough state tournament opponent as they faced No. 1 seed and state power Bridgewater-Raritan, but Reichenbecher said the "experience is important for our players."

Senior co-captains Nick Caporaso and Troy Bonjavanni did an outstanding job stepping up as leaders of the young Rebels.

Sophomore Rob Hart, a midfielder, has been the team's best all-around player.

Other key players have all been underclassmen, including goalie C.J. Cameron, John Riccio, Rob Malfara, Ryan Handy, Kevin Scott, Tyler Ott, Ryan Dambach and Johnny Bukowiec.

Howell finished the season at 8-8.

Colts Neck, which was second to Freehold Township in A North, had its own scoring troika in Nick Bisignano, Robert Tamas and Dylan Tucker.

Tamas struck for 32 goals, Bisignano had 27 and Tucker scored 17 to go along with 19 assists. This was an all-senior line and it carried the Cougars throughout the 2009 campaign.

Goalie Travis Sandin has been among the total saves and saves percentage leaders in the Shore Conference all year.

Colts Neck finished the season at 10-7. The good news for the Cougars is that they are young on defense and in the midfield, and will have solid players returning to build around in 2010.